Labrat

Re: TA: Wizards and Armor I agree with Dale, that it is kind of left over from DnD, however wasn't the wizard-armor restriction spawned from a more or less literary tradtion of iron's influence on magic? That's where the wizard's quarterstaff vs. a sword came from too, didn't it (although IIRC wizards were allowed to use daggers...). Galdalf had a sword, that should be more of a rules judgement than anything... however he chose not to wear armor. Why? A quick go-around for that is to have an Armor Familiarity just like Weapon Familiarity where using Armor without the proper AF would reflect in something equivalent to a -3 OCV (-3 DCV seems a bit overbearing, but can be displaced with proper DCV levels. Anyway that's some ponderings. Myself, I would allow any character to use any armor but place proper restrictions when it comes to elaborate semantics (Gestures, like GamePhil may have been more or less alluding to), etc.

Re: NOBLES, KNIGHTS, AND NECROMANCERS -- What Do *You* Want To See? Hey Steve Any chance of seeing a revamped version of 'Stronghammer the Dwarf' in a FH form from Classic Enemies (4Ed)? (God, I hope I'm kidding but I just can't tell...)

Re: Knights of the Griffin This would be an ok solution, along with Rapier's observation that other PCs don't have to pay 'points' for a horse, just money. The griffin is bound to join the battle just as horses sometimes do. If the Griffin dies, then the assumption behind paying points is that a new Griffin will be discharged to the knight (a fair assumption), at no CP cost to the player (they could always demand a monetary retainer). Sbarron's second point about the /5 cost structure could work too, just like a vehicle, making the Griffin still an impact on PC points but diluting the impact such that it doesn't cripple the PC when the Griffin isn't around. You could do all of this and still play the Griffin as the GM, but as long as points are spent it would be more like a PC-controlled NPC with fierce loyalty.

Re: Real Life Egyptian Tomb Adventure! Depending on whether or not they allow cameras in you may get your wish, guys. I'll have my phone-cam ready too. It looks like there are 'groups' that go in, but hopefully they don't allow too many in at the same time. All I can think of is Iron Maiden's 'Power Slave'. I think I might be building it up too much in my head and it will end up being an adult version of 'Treasure of the Lost Temple' on Nick GAS... then you'll just get a picture of me looking glum and broken-hearted.

http://www.gobostoncard.com/attractions/5WITS.html I'm totally going to be doing this in two weeks when I go to Boston. If there's interest, I'll post a review.

Re: Knights of the Griffin I've been batting this idea around myself for a little while. I like the concept of Griffins as cultural icons, they would feature prominently in the banners, the everyday life, the legends, the jokes, etc. It seems like a rich place to start an adventure. My advice is to run the Griffin as an intelligent NPC so the PC doesn't have full control over it, but you do. That way it's a friend to the party and not merely to the knight who it serves with as a fellow soldier. Would that work?

Re: Latest Titanic Discovery!! "But scientists have long puzzled over the source of its hazy atmosphere rich in nitrogen and methane." "...and methane cometh from pig sh!t..." The Collector, "Mad Max Beyond Thunderdome" "...nyaaah... could be." Bugs Bunny

Re: Quick Hero Nice work, O Llama! Maybe the 'Swift' stat list should have a SPD of 4 to emphasize to newbies one of the more original mechanics of the HERO system (for better or worse). That blank space right next to the Char table would fit a SPD chart nicely. This reminds me of how 1st Ed DnD was broken down. Very simple, almost more emphasis on the character than those pesky stats. "I'm going to be a Strong Dwarf Warrior!" [i speak of the pre-munchkin, pre-powergamer days.] Keep up the good work, thou shalt be rep't.

Re: Old Testament Hero Oh gosh... I hope my comments didn't sound inflammatory, they weren't meant to be. And I certainly didn't take offense to Bennie's defense of the inquiries provided. I think his justification works, it's just a matter of how your own mileage varies. My response is my personal view, not meant to be imposed or judgemental to anyone else who doesn't mind the subject matter. No flames, here, O Llama!

Re: Curious

Re: Curious

Re: Turakian Age Questions 1. You can get a feel for racial naming conventions by looking at the names of the elven tribes... I actually encourage my players to take their tribal name as a 'surname'. The dwarven locations/cities and some of the mentioned NPCs could help establish a dwarven naming convention. 2. Maybe the Harge****e Devestation region would still fit your purposes if you made it the way you are envisioning it? I am tempted to think of it as a region of 'post-apocalyptic fantasy'. I'll have to check out what Steve wrote about it when I get a moment. Seems like a pretty good place to adventure in any case. Hope this helps.

Re: Someone's gotta know the answer to this: Four... Four unlucky fools. I made a statement that it might take 'two hours' to get across by raft but I fear that I was mistaken. Now here's a question for the Mapmaker of the Westerlands: Mr. Curtis, just how wide is the Corwine River? I figgered that it dumps out into a swamp so it can't be too swift of a current, could it? I'm geologically challenged.

Re: Someone's gotta know the answer to this: I think yours is the winner, Matt. I am working with a wider model but now that I have a good mile/minute ratio plus the stats for the Mississippi (thanks AlHazred) I can work it out. This is one of those problems that I would like a more practical answer instead of the math model answer. Triangulation and back-of-the envelope calculations is where I was when I wrote this, I was looking more for experiences and 'real life' modeling. BTW we're talking four inexperienced adults on a 'Huck-Finn' type raft. Thanks everyone! Now the adventurers can get to the other side! [Rep to Matt, AlHazred and Keith (again) Curtis]

How long would it take for four adults to row across the Mississippi on a raft? Any takers? I have no clue but it will help me as a reference. (Ah the things you can ask on a gamers thread and not get scowled at)

Re: The Five Chinese Brothers (seeking info about)

Re: The Five Chinese Brothers (seeking info about) The Five Chinese Brothers (Paperstar) (Paperback) by Claire Huchet Bishop, Kurt Wiese (Illustrator) "ONCE upon a time there were Five Chinese Brothers and they all looked exactly alike..." (more) http://www.amazon.com/gp/reader/0698113578/ref=sib_dp_pt/104-4052196-7281531#reader-link The Seven Chinese Brothers (Blue Ribbon Book) (Paperback) by Margaret Mahy, Mou-Sien Tseng (Illustrator) "Once upon a time, when Ch'in Shih Huang was emperor of all China, seven remarkable brothers lived together on a beautiful hillside..." (more) From School Library Journal Kindergarten-Grade 4-- The seven brothers walk, talk, and look alike, but each has his own special power. When the third brother runs afoul of the emperor and is sentenced to be beheaded, the fourth brother, who has bones of iron, takes his place. The emperor then tries drowning and burning but each time a different brother foils his scheme. Mahy retells this traditional Chinese tale in graceful, witty prose. She uses classic storytelling elements to their best advantage and, without any attempt to imitate Chinese syntax, her choice of words gives a feeling of time and place. Both jacket notes and an editor's foreword give background information about the tale. Beginning with the cover, which shows the smiling brothers looming over a cowering emperor, the Tsengs' rich watercolors complement and enhance the story. With great skill, they interweave elements of ancient Chinese painting with lively pictorial storytelling. The emperor, encased in voluminous ceremonial robes, is an embodiment of corrupt yet insecure power, and the beautiful faces of the seven brothers, although alike, glow with life. Many readers will be familiar with the classic Claire Bishop/Kurt Wiese version of the The Five Chinese Brothers (Coward-McCann, 1938). The style of both text and illustrations is so different from the Mahy/Tseng book that comparisions are inappropriate. An exceptional new telling of the story. --Karen James, Louisville Free Public Library, KY You can get both together for a discount at Amazon.com That's the same book cover for the Five Chinese Brothers that I remember seeing as a kid. Weird.

Re: The Five Chinese Brothers (seeking info about) Wow I remember that one from when I was my son's age (8 or so). That was a cool story. KC hit it right on the head though about the abilities. The Emperor wanted to kill them for some reason, but he couldn't do it. And that was the kid's book version of the story (we really weren't spared much in the way of graphic violence, were we?) Talk about a time warp moment... I hope someone can come up with a link. That would be a certified blast from the past. I've got some Rep for both of you!

Re: Make a Green Lantern Oath You know that if you're being cruel You know that if you're a career liar Then I'm going to say to you Perp, your situation's dire Try to escape from the Green Fire Come on baby light the Green Fire Glance into the Emerald Pyre Stare into the Emerald Pyre GAZE INTO THE EMERALD PYYY-RRRRRE... yeah

Re: Make a Green Lantern Oath Of course a more politically correct Green Lantern would have to be more selective: "In brightest day, in deepest night, ['black' can be offensive] no conflict of my own interests shall escape my sight! ['evil' is so subjective] Let those who agree to uphold those same interests which conflict with my own interests might, [again with the 'evil', and 'worship' shows religious intolerance] beware the Green Lantern Coalition's power.. Green Lantern's light!" [one needs unity in order to stand for something acceptable, Green Lanterns have gotten into trouble due to the subjectiveness of personal policing authority] There, that's more neutral. You don't want to go spewing about your own conviction, the 'acceptably tolerant' will crucify... er, reprimand... you for it.

Re: KillerShrike.com Fantasy Update

Re: Knowledge Skills in the Future Yep. Agreed.

Re: Knowledge Skills in the Future And this is why I chose to put this topic here and not under the General Hero Boards because as Tech advances in the future, the more likely portable libraries via wrist-top computers and such will be much more common. 'Not having web access' will probably be an uncommon thing... unless, like you said, the entire net goes down.

Re: Knowledge Skills in the Future

http://www.midway.com/classicGames/classicGamePlayer.php?game=joust 1. I do have more time to waste that I thought... 2. I actually feel like I accomplished something if I kill a pterodactyl 3. They're only quarters... (and if I had all of them back I would be independently wealthy) 4. Forget Hero Games, I'm William's Games bee-yotch 5. Avoid pterodactyl 6. Get the blue knights before they make their DEX rolls and mount successfully 7. My keyboard suffers severely if I can't fly fast enough to get to the higher rock-islands 8. Lava-hands are both your friend and your enemy 9. It's not about the extra 3000 points on the Egg Wave, it's about the principle 10. I still miss the classics in this age of virtual-real-time 3D gaming.